Black in America P1

So I just finished watching the 1st installment of CNN’s “Black In America” & I must say that I was dead on in my previously mentioned assumption, well maybe kinda.

Initially I thought I would learn nothing new but a few hours later I actually learned:

1. If I died tomorrow & came back as a Black man in DC, I would not fuck any damn body. There is a lot of AIDS/HIV up in that bitch. 80% of newly diagnosed cases are Negroes. Dayyyuuummmm
2. TD Jakes really does look like a greasy pig. There is no reason for him to be that rotund. I honestly thought I saw pork chop meat fly though his gap.
3. There is such a thing as a strong 20%. How can you only have protected sex a strong 20%??? Strong 20% to me means 100% fucking loose all the time
4. Soledad got on my nerves more than I thought

While watching, Cousin Dee & I were text messaging each other & I wish I could copy & paste it because it was a hot mess. The funniest thing that Cousin Dee sent me was “… so that whites could get a glimpse into what we go through in case Obama wins.” The funny thing is as you know, I so feel the same way

A lot of what I saw was not necessarily related to Black people, a lot of it could be anyone. Poverty affects everyone the same although geography may play a part in overall outcomes.

When they compared the family with the 6 kids in & going to college to the single mother struggling like a mutha with her 5 kids, I thought, what dies that have to do with race. That shit was socioeconomic.

I also thought & have held this position before, Black women need to stop giving up the pussy just to get a boo. Look bitches, most young men want some ass, a little head & good omelette, he does not want to be your knight in shining amour. Wait, that was a little harsh but all I am trying to say is stop trying to Mr. Right and giving him all you have (ass, cash, dignity) because with the number of available Black men on the streets means he is Mr. Right now & somebody else’s Mr. Right at 1115pm.

I talked to Suite Suzy about it & she wondered how much of it is the “Black condition” & how much is choice. I think this is a valid question.

1. Does being Black in America make you want to fuck more
2. Does being Black in America make you want to have unprotected sex
   
3. Does being Black in America make you a prime candidate to be systematically disadvantaged
4. Does being Black in America make you as a parent not aware that your young son is a gang banger
5. Does being Black in America make you a charity case
6. Does being Black in America make you an unlikely "Project Runway" fan

Did you watch? Did you learn anything? Did anything turn you off?

I could go on & on so I hope you get what I mean. Talk to me.

Couldn't Help Myself

I told myself yesterday that I would not post any photos from my garden but I have to sell myself out because things were looking good in the backyard.

So forgive me for my bloom time excitement.

The Bitch Switch

Omarosa may be an egotistical mofo that many love to hate, but she is no where near as hit up as Wendy Williams. I cannot believe that Wendy is denying a nose job, who does she think she's fooling.

Well I guess it does not matter because with or without rhinoplasty, she is tore up from the floor up.

Thinking of You Boo

Saturday while out & about, my boo called & said she spotted some pretty Oriental lilies on $5 clearance at Wal-Mart (of all places). She said there were some red & some pink ones but that was all she knew. I said sure get me whatever & that would be cool.

Later, I got home & saw these awesome Dwarf Oriental lilies & I was so geeked.

Today after I got home from a BO campaign mtg, I changed into my garden gear & hit the yard to get busy.

After everything was planted, I thanked my boo again for such great floral picks. And you know I had to pull out the camera………

Watching But Not Promoting

If anyone else emails me about watching CNN’s “Black In America” program I am going to snap!!! To date, I got 14 messages about watching the program & then last week I was contacted by a PR firm asking me to put something on my blog to promote the special & guess what, I’m not. I am not getting paid & there is nothing in it for me, so fuck that.

While I am interested in the program, I also think it is a program geared towards whites, shit I have been Black in America for quite a while so. I say this because we know our shit is fucked up, we write books, have blogs, circulate giving talks, work in out reach programs, we know us.

The last email from a friend about BIA was from BFB & I responded with:

“I think that it's going to be good but I really think they planned this so that white America can start to get to know more about black folk just in case a negro lands in the white house.

I will be watching & ready to critique.”

And another thing, I find Soledad O'brien annoying & not looking forward to hearing her nasally voice off & on for 4 hours.

@ The Movies : The Dark Knight

So I finally was able to get a ticket today to see Batman: “The Dark Knight”.  I was going to take Sade because she liked the last Batman (“Batman Returns”) movie but when it was time to go, she said no & I am happy that she did.   “The Dark Knight” is not a kids movie by any means!!!!!!

The newest installment of the Batman franchise is no joke and blows the lid off of the other releases on many levels.

The plot line was fairly basic but the twists & turns along the way were very unexpected.

Christian Bale had another stellar performance but I think he was upstaged by Heath Ledger’s demented “Joker” character.  I had heard a few stories about Heath being nominated for an Oscar & I now know why.  It was almost scary watching him & I can almost see why he offed himself.  Perhaps he got caught up in the mystique & craziness of the Joker. 

If any other Oscars are mentions, they should definitely be for make-up & cinemaphotography

At one point during the car chase scene, I thought I was going to go into a seizure because it was so visually stimulating.  It was way intense!!!

It was so intense, I am going back to see it Tuesday on IMax.

I wish I could say more but there is so much to say, I will leave it to the real movie critics.  I will totally recommend carving out 2.3 hours and be ready for loads of ass kicking action & delicious violence.

Detroit: A Tale of Hot Dick & Nuts

What do the 3 light skinneded “characters” in the image on the right all have in common? They all got caught up in hot dick & nuts & ultimately got fucked over in the end!!!

Watching & reading the local Detroit news for the last few months has been a dramatic rollercoaster filled with juicy sexy details, scandal, verbal bitch slaps & lawsuits.

Over the last few weeks details of a sludge removal deal approved by the Detroit city council has been under scrutiny because apparently, several city council members (most notably Monica Conyers, congressman John Conyers' wife, who also happens to be the bitch that got read a by a student for calling another city council member Shrek ) were bribed into approving the multi million dollar deal.

Although the bribe allegations are shocking but not necessarily surprising, the story on really gets juicy when you factor in the fact that a local television newscaster Fanchon Stinger may have had her finger in the cookie jar as well.

When the details started to uncover that Fanchon was involved, watching the news coverage was like watching an episode of “Passion” mixed with “The Apprentice”.

Apparently, Fanchon got caught up with Rayford Jackson, a married man who I have seen her out & about with.  Rayford had Fanchon doing shit that a woman of status should not be doing, like being his jump off piece/stand by pussy. Setting up deals that cause serious conflict of interest and anything else.

I first saw Fanchon & Rayford at a party last year & when I saw them, I was like, why is she with that pimp & where is her paid white husband???  Well after the party I found out that he left her.

Anyway a this party, I noticed Fanchon following Rayford around like a puppy dog, even holding his drink & handing it to him when he motioned for it to take a sip.  I just though that it looked like a mess for her to be scene like that.

Anyway, when this story broke, I was fucked up & knew that it was over for her all because she got caught up in the dick, married dick.

Here in an excerpt form the Detroit News:

Stinger has had several luxury cars registered in her name.

She is the registered owner of a 2007 Rolls Royce and is also registered as leasing a 2008 Lexus LS 460, according to Michigan Secretary of State records.

Other public records show Stinger has had a 2006 Ferrari 612 Scaglietti, a 2005 BMW 7-Series and a 2002 Jaguar S Type registered in her name in the past.

A new Rolls Royce retails for more than $300,000 without extras and the 2006 Ferrari for more than $250,000.

Stinger, who joined Fox 2 as an investigative reporter in 1997 and became an anchor in 2004, was paid about $325,000 a year by Fox 2 Detroit in 2005, according to divorce records.

At this point, Fanchon has been looked at by the FBI, she lost her 325,000 newscaster job with the local Fox affiliate & everyone knows her damn business.  I guess Rayford hit that shit so deep that she forgot who the fuck she was & just got lost in the process.  It is very fascinating for me to see how women lose their damn minds for hot dick & nuts.

So bring this to a wrap, when I was at BFB’s wedding reception last week, I talked to some friends, a mother & daughter.  I asked them how they felt about Fanchon Stinger & Christine Beatty giving light skinned woman a bad name.  They both cracked up.  I then said the days of the light skinned woman’s popularity was numbered & that they would soon be out of style.

The daughter replied, light sinned women will never be out of style no matter what it is light skinned black men that are out of style never to come back.  Then her & her mom did a high five, what could I say to that.

I later told Suite Suzy that she was out of style & she told me to shut my out of style ass up.  I guess we as a couple really don’t need to be in style.

Pressured to Pray

Last Saturday I celebrated my 9th wedding anniversary with my boo.  Usually we take a trip to celebrate our love out of town but this year it was not an option because my best friend Brion (BFB) got married on our special date (weird coincident).

Ever since BFB told me the wedding date I bitched at him about how he fucked up my vacation plan & that he owes me.  And he always basically said fuck you & you better be there (of course).

So anyway, the big day was last week & I was one of the groomsmen, which was interesting experience a) because I had not worn a tux since high school b) the wedding was large, which made me nervous even in my small role c) if I started to cry with joy everyone would see me.

Just before 515pm last Saturday, the pastor walked into the room with us guys to escort us out.  Before we walked out he asked that we all join hands for a prayer.

At this point, I was like ummmmmmm. & I just sat right were I was seated.  As the guys formed a prayer circle, everyone looked at me & was like come on.  I explained that I was not going to participate & another guy said what, I said I am an Atheist & I would not.  Then the same guy was like, you can’t make an exception for your boy, totally putting me on front street.

To take the drama out of the room & the spot light off of me, I stood up walked over, joined hands to complete the uncomfortable prayer circle.

After it was over, I got my mind right so that I could focus on standing in front of 300+ people during the exchange of vows between my friends.

Fast forward, it is now 1130pm & BFB, Suite Suzy & I were talking at the reception about me being pressured into praying.  Suite Suzy said I should have got off my ass and at least pretended.  BFB co-signed & said that I should have as well, then he said he just bowed his head & went along with the program despite his feelings. 

I also shared this story with my friend Zana days later & she sided with BFB & Suite Suzy & said when in Rome, do as the Romans or stay the fuck out.  She also looked at me & had that oh no you didn’t look, which was funny.

Basically BFB was not tripping on me & knew were I was coming from & he knows where my heart is.  I mean, we have been friends for 24 years, why would I do anything just to fuck him up???

Last Sunday on the drive home, I thought more about the church incident & was questioned why Christians (not all but many) like running guilt trips on others that do not see things the way they do.  And I also pondered, why fake a prayer in the circle of believers, wouldn’t my disbelief cancel some of that shit out???

Then I thought, what if I practiced Santeria and had that same guy at a religious gathering on my turf & we were about to sacrifice a chicken & I ran the same game on him that he ran on me.  Would he help in the murder of the said chicken to be there for his boy?  I think not.

This incident & a few others helped to solidify my belief that Christianity is a religion based on guilt, intolerance & mental domination.  If you want to argue me on this point, I can quote scripture that back my points up, so go there if you dare.  I grew up in the church so I am equipped to fight, although I prefer not to.

When I look at other regions, I do not see the as much of the things that turn me off about Christianity.  Ultimately, I respect all who respect my & my beliefs or lack there of.  I do not run around trying to convert people etc so don’t fuck with my by trying to force your practices, beliefs & systems on me.

Live & let live & do what’s best for you & I will do me.

Finding Beauty Where There is Little

Chicory is such an easy plant to hate because a) it is considered a weed here b) the body & foliage of the plant is hideous but the wonderful blue bloom that it produces more than makes up for its shortcomings.

And no, this was not taken in my backyard!

Phototherapy

Over the last week, I have been itching to post about some topical issues ranging from the downfall of the light ‘skinneded’ Negro woman (at least in Detroit), to a church prayer jump off, to my fight at my local apple store, which lead to me getting a free iPhone upgrade.

Well I am still itching to talk about the above & more but in reality, I am itching physically because of the ass load of mosquito bites I have all over my back & arms.

I have been stressed out a bit lately over what I am not sure of but I kinda feel like my life is spinning in some type of cyclone of chaos.  Coming home to my gardens have been a big help in the madness that is going on all up in my nappy head.

As soon as I get home, I rush in the door, take of my watch, ring, empty my pockets, take a piss, wash my hands & face, then finally put on my garden clogs & hit the door with my camera in hand.

Here are a few shots that kept me from going over the edge recently.  Time for a nightcap, so I’m out this bitch until I get my mind right.  I know somebody out there feels me.

Dance Boo Boo, Dance...

A few weeks ago Boo Boo started kinderdance at the rec center.  She says that she likes it but on parent watch day she clamed up & did not perform with the other kids.  She was not the worst offender of the little dancer wannabees.  There were a few cry babies calling for their mama, a few doing their own dance & a few who were making it happen.

It was kinda funny watch her in the middle of everyone dancing around her.

Suite Suzy wants her to stat back up in the fall with it but I think not, unfortunately, I have no say in the matter.

Bygbaby Cooks: Traditional Caipirinha

Caipirinha is pronounced (kye-puh-reen-ah"

The Caipirinha is the national cocktail of Brazil and one of my favorite summertime drinks.They are simple to make and very delicious but not for the faint of heart. The drink is made with Cachaça, which is made from is made from fresh sugarcane juice that's fermented and distilled and is usually 80 proof or higher.

After 2 of these and I usually out for the count. Today I had 3 and I’m still standing surprisingly.

Ingredients:

• Cachaça (pronounced ka-shaa-suh)
• Sugar
• Lime
• Ice

Procedure:

• Quarter one half of your lime and place in a cocktail tumbler along with 2-3 spoonfuls of sugar
• Muddle the lime and sugar until the lime is juiced
• Fill the glass with ice and pour in the cachaça until the glass is full
• Shake your powerful concoction (with a shaker top over your tumbler of course)
• Once your drink is well shaken and not stirred serve and enjoy

Any of the substitutions for the cachaça will make your drink a bootlegged hot mess!

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Cachaça History:

Cachaça was invented by the first Portuguese settlers of Brazil, in the region around the town of São Vicente, sometime between 1532 and 1548. Workers at local sugar mills first discovered that the sugarcane juice (garapa), cooked and left standing, would "sour" (ferment) and turn into a mild alcoholic beverage. The product, disparagingly named cagaça, was consumed by slaves (plantation owners began serving the liquid to their slaves after noticing that the drive would increase vigor.), as a cheap substitute for the Indians' cauim. Soon someone had the idea of distilling it, and thus cachaça was born.

Cachaça distilleries multiplied through colonial Brazil during the 16th and 17th centuries. Portugal eventually took notice and, in order to protect the market for Portuguese-made grappa, tried several times to outlaw the manufacture and consumption of the new spirit. In 1756, after a century of failure to suppress it, the Crown gave up and levied a tax on cachaça. This tax brought substantial revenue to the Treasury, and contributed to the reconstruction following the 1755 Lisbon earthquake and tsunami.

Currently there are more than 4,000 different brands of cachaça available in Brazil. Early in its history it was consumed mainly by Africans, peasants, and members of the lower class. As is often the case, elitists considered it a low drink, unfit for exclusivist bars and tables. However, the finer points of the product gained wider and wider appreciation, and it is now a very popular drink, considered by some to be in the same class as whiskey and wine. In the country's largest cities there are many bars specialized in cachaça, called cachaçarias, offering hundreds of different brands, some of them very expensive. The most prized brands are produced in Minas Gerais and São Paulo. The Brazilian government and producer associations have recently acted to promote the export of cachaça. (Soure: Wikipedia)

Stronger as the Days Pass

My post title is dedicated to the man that taught me who to appreciate many forms of music and it is inspired by Earth Wind & Fire’s song "Keep You Head to the Sky” from their "Head to the Sky" album 1973.

“Master told me one day
I’d find peace in every way
But in search for the clue
Wrong things I was bound to do

Keep my head to the sky
For the clouds to tell me why
As I grew, and with strength
Master kept me as I repent
And he said 

Keep your head to the sky
Keep your head to the sky”

Seven years ago today, Suit Suite and I were walking around downtown Toronto celebration our wedding anniversary, like we do most years. As we walking, Toronto was busy with activities that were in preparation for the 2008 Summer Olympic Host City announcement that was to be made later that day.

Around six that same evening the Chinese citizens of the city took over the streets with boisterous excitement because Beijing was announced as the winner of the 2008 summer Olympics. I was disappointed and so were many others but hey, at least we got a fun parade out of it, along with 2008 Toronto gear that is not worth the shit of a fly. Anyway, the day was a good day. Suite Suzy and I also took in the "Lion King "stage play and had a fabulous Thai dinner.

As the night started to wind down, we headed back to the hotel to…

It’s now 3am and the hotel phone is ringing. Like most times when the phone rings that late, I always say, somebody better be dead or in jail calling this late and I'm out of town. I picked up the phone and said helleeer and my mom in a hurried voice says Brian (remember it was 7 years ago), your dad is dead. I say excuse me, did you say dead. She said yes that nigga is dead, and you need to get home.

I dropped the phone and screamed and Suite Suzy tried to figure out was going on.

As hours passed, I tried to get my mind right as Suite Suzy comforted me until the morning. We talked about all the what ifs, what about and why. I pretty much felt like a crying zombie that whole day, it was very rough and to make matter worse the his death underscored my wedding anniversary.

After my dad, RL Howard died my world was forever changed in good and bad ways and I deal with them as best as I can but the process seems never ending.

I told myself this morning not to have a tearful day and to think about his smile, conversations we had and how much I used to hate seeing him get food stuck in his mustache, especially grits.

After I got home today from an anniversary overnight jump off with my boo, I came home fixed a few cocktails (images and recipe coming soon!) I went and laid in the grass to enjoy the summer breeze and the passing clouds. As I laid in this solitary downtime, I felt peace, no sorrow, no hurt no pain. I think I am getting stronger.

Don't Want it, Don't Need it!

Why I’m not getting the new iPhone 3g:

• I’m broke
• I would have to sign another 2 year contract
• I would be forced to get the new 3g service plan, which is 10 dollars more & 5 bucks if you want a minimum pf 200 text messages.  So with both, that brings the data package to 35 bucks on top of your minute plan
• The only difference in the new iPhone vs the old is GPS capability & that is not something that I need
• The software upgrade 2.0 is available for my current iPhone so I get some of the same things just maybe slower in terms of using AT&T’s network
• I don’t want to spend another 200 bucks on a disposable item

So for the record, AT&T is a bitch!  Today I spent 10 minutes on the phone with a sales person trying to figure out my bill & minute plan. My minute plan is 59.99 per month for 900 minutes & I had early nights & weekends, which is 8.99 per month (now cancelled).  I also found out that I have like 6000 roll over minutes. The real kicker is that I’m paying over 10 bucks in taxes!!!!!!  I guess I need to start reading my bill. I tried to get a cheaper plan but the next step down was 450 minutes for 39.99 per month, which is not enough because my average over the last 4 months was 407.  Basically I could get ate alive in overage fees & I am not willing to risk that.  So I will continue to get raped by AT&T until this damn contract is up. ………….

I am however, going to get the Mobile Me service offered by Apple.  It looks cool & worth the 100 bucks for convenience. With all this said, I still have the right to back peddle & get the iPhone 3g.

Sing Baby Sing!

Taken from an interview amongst friends:
Bygbaby: Do you know the nation anthem, can you sing it?
Tafari: I do not know the words but I can hum along if pressed

Bygbaby: Do you the Black national anthem, can you sing it
Tafari: Ummm, yeah!  I know it by heart & can sing it at a moments notice

Bygbaby: Do your kids know either of these anthems?
Tafari: No, but I have thought about teaching them the Black national anthem, I just have not gotten there yet.  No thoughts on the other.
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I was on the Field Negro’s blog today & spotted a story about one of my favorite contemporary jazz singers René Marie.  It looks like René was selected to sing the national anthem in Denver for an address given by the mayor of the city.  I will let you see for yourself what jumped off.

When the video started playing, I said OH SHIT!!!!  What we’s gone do now… After she finished her performance, I thought I heard a mouse fart in that room because it got so damn quite.

From Cleveland.com:

"A lot of attention has been paid to a recent political performance by noted Denver jazz singer René Marie.

People have called the performance inappropriate.

Marie, no stranger to Cleveland Heights' Nighttown, was invited to sing the national anthem before Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper's State of the City address last week. But when she took the stage, Marie performed a song called, "Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing," also known as the Negro national anthem by some.

It's a powerful Negro spiritual. But since America is only about 11 percent black, most Americans have never heard of the song.

Marie, a talented vocalist and intellect, knows this.
Yet she was content to leave many of the folks attending Denver's State of the City address with horrified looks as she made an inspired mockery of ceremony.

Indeed, for sheer shock value, Marie, could have hardly been more provocative -- or artistically inappropriate -- if she had simply sung "Dixie," or broke into a chorus of Lil' Wayne's "Drop It Like It's Hot."…"

From Associate Content:

"In a surprise attempt at artistic expression, singer Chanteuse René Marie blended the national anthem with James Weldon Johnson's "Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing," which is commonly referred to as the "Black National Anthem." To make matters worse, this impromptu artistic and political statement was made during Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper's annual State of the City address.

In response, to this faux pas, The Rocky Mountain News is reporting that the Denver City Council is being hammered with hate-filled messages. With eyes already looking towards Denver because of the August 25th Democratic National Convention, the singing of "The Black National Anthem" is a racially and politically charged stunt that will have major implications for Barack Obama, the Democrats, and Denver.

Chanteuse René Marie says she doesn't have any regrets. In fact, she is quoted in the Rocky Mountain News as saying "You have to risk things."

I tell you I love it!!!  René made a powerful statement & I appreciate her for that & her daring to go there.  What I found most interesting is the fact that people tried to tie this to Barack Obama WTF.... I want to know who he can't be tied to.

René did a excellent interview about this drama with Michelle Martin on “Tell Me More”.  If you have another 7 minutes on your hands, have a listen.

I know her critics are out of their fucking minds for jumping off with overtly racist feedback. Furthermore, I am happy to know that she is holding her ground with an apology.

René, you go boo!!!

P.S. Why must we Negroes. love America to fucking death? We were up in this bitch before the majority of the Europeans. We built this bitch & we have freedom of speech & expression just like anyone else. Check the constituion cuz we as a people certainly do not owe you shit.

Bygbaby Cooks: 1.2.3... Pesto

My friend & co-worker surprised me today with a nice big bag of sweet basil picked from her herb garden.  When I saw it, I got excited & shouted PESTO (in my head)!

As soon as I got home, I pull out my pine nuts, olive oil & garlic. Before you know it, I was in business with one of my favorite flexible condiments.

We of course use it on pasta but we also use it in chicken salad, rice, stir fries, crackers with mozzarella & scrambled eggs....

Mmmmm, Mmmmm, Mmmmm, Mmmmm

I usually do not measure when I cook but to be a little more accurate, I pulled out some measuring cups.

Ingredients:
- 2-3 cups of Basil
- ¼ Cup pine nuts
- 4 Garlic cloves
- Olive oil
- 1/3 Cup Parmesan cheese

Procedure:
- Drop your bunch of basil into a food processor with pine nuts, garlic cloves & cheese then pulse for 5 secs
- Pour in about ½ cup of olive oil & pulse again for 10 seconds

After my pesto was done, I cooked up some bow-tie pasta/farfalle & tossed in a little pesto. The pasta was served with some blackened Alaskan salmon and red kool-aid.

FUCK JESSE JACKSON!!!!!

Just thought I would say that out loud. He needs to shut the fuck up & mind his own damn business & take care of that bastard child he has running around. Maybe his wife should have cut his nuts off after the world found out that he likes to share them.

Why is he... Nevermind fuck it!

Mixed Bag of Entertainment

Last Friday Sade & I hung out for the day for some brother/sister ("Brother/Sister" is my favorite Brand New Heavies Album!) time.  We started with that voter registration drive that I mentioned below.  After the voter registration piece, we did a little lunch & then decided to go to the movies to see “Hancock”.  After seeing previews of “Hancock” I was not all that thrilled to see it but Sade seemed pretty excited about it, so we hit it up.

I walked into the theater with no real expectation to be entertained but I was open minded (I guess).  The movie kinda started off with some of the stuff that was played on TV for press but started to take off after the 1st thirty minutes.

The ending story line was a trip (in a good way) & unexpected.  I left the theater feeling satisfied that my 13.50  was well spent/  I also walked away wondering when I will see a Will Smith movie when he has a BLACK love interest.  “Enemy of the State” & “Independence Day” is not enough IMO.

Ok enough of that….

After the movie, I decided to head to the Detroit Taste Fest or City Fest, whatever.  Sade did not want to go but, guess who had the car keys boo!

So 45 minutes later we arrive at the Taste Fest & make our rounds to the various vendors, did some people watching & chit chatting with random friends.  We chilled for a couple of hours then it was time to go & I was getting tired.

As we were walking out, I spotted the concert schedule for one of the stages & it said Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 performing @ 530.  I was like Sade, we gotta see this, which resulted in her doing some eye rolling & teeth sucking.  I could not be mad at that because I felt her.  It was a long day.

We had like 20 minutes before the show started & managed to get seats up front which were cool because I did not have my 70-200mm lens.

It’s now 530 & the show is actually starting, then Egypt 80 (Fela Kuti’s original band) walks out to energize the crowd.  They performed a few songs & were JAMMING!  They sounded so damn good!!!

So after a few cuts, Seun was introduced as he walked on stage with these tight ass wrinkled angel flight pants with a coordinating polyester shirt.  I was thinking to myself, I know this nigga did not come all the way here with no damn iron. If the pants were ironed he would have looked more together.  I’m just saying.

Anyway, Seun put on a great show & had the crowd going.  His vocals almost made it seem like I was listening to his father.  The song themes were similar if not the same and still empowering.

During the performance Seun danced his ass off & so much that it seemed like his pants got tighter.  Eventually the polyester shirt came off & the ladies were like take it off baby!  Minutes later, I think we all got more than we bargained for.

After the shirt came off the next song that he set off was a cover of Fela’s ”Suffering & Smiling”.  During the instrumental intro, Sade was like didn’t we just hear that in the car,  then she said, I thought he was dead, which made me laugh.  “Suffering & Smiling” is my jam so I joined the crowd by dancing, singing, & cheering on the band.

Half way through the body of the song Seun started doing this weird booty thrust dance move & next thing you know his dick was hard & popping up & down.  The ladies were really geeked now.  I could not believe that I was watching a skinny, singing, shirtless nigga with a hard dick popping around on stage in the middle of Detroit.  I was like I gotta get out of here because it was a little too much & I was with my child.  The last thing I want to expose my kids to is light pornography.

As I was leaving the area. I ran into a friend/local international celeb who knows Seun & Femi Kuti & he said that Seun is good but cannot compete with his brother.  Apparently, Femi is more energetic, has better looking girls & a little more original.  And according to this friend who I will call AF, said that Femi is not as nasty & horny on stage.  I laughed & we parted ways.

So catching up to the other day, I posted a comment about me seeing Seun on the “Black Cool” Blog’s  “Happy 4th Everyone!” post:

“Ooooo you know I love Fela! I saw his son Seun perform in Detroit on the 4th.

He covered Suffering & Smiling & set it off. The women in the crowd or up least up front where I was were very excited especially when he got a spontaneous erection.

I was so turned off & pissed off. I was with one of my kids.

Anyway...
Bygbaby”

Then the Invisible Woman followed my comment by saying “Love it! and I am referring to the video and not bygbaby's comment...lol!” 

Then the Invisible Woman came here & called me out with the following comment:

“Hey yo....why didn't you write about seeing Seun Kuti? I was lmao at your comment on Black Kool---I told you I went to see him too...want to hear about your perspective....I wrote about mine on my blog.

Dude does seem pretty horny tho--those tight ass pants were the first indication!”

She cracked me up with that last line because I was thinking the same damn thing miles away.  So then I go peep her post out & read the following

“…Seun is an entertainer, but what caught my attention more was the fact that Mr. Kuti looked like he'd been raiding his father's 70's closet. He had on a bright polyester floral shirt unbuttoned down to his navel, and the tightest white Angel Flight pants one could ever witness in their life. I haven't seen anything like it since "Saturday Night Fever". Tho admittedly, but the end of the show, he was half-naked, which seems to be some sort of trademark of his….”

I guess the bottom line is ladies or gents, if you are into hot dick & nuts along with some ass popping, check out Seun when he hits your town.  No seriously, he did put on a good show but homeboy is mos def hot in the pants!

Oh and by the way, speaking of hot, his new album "Many Things" a must have for the Afro Beat lover.

Me But Nothing Really

I am too tired for self portraits these day. Actually, Iam just always tired. Anyway, as I mentioned before taking self portraits is a drag. So my new strategy to get photos of myself is to teach the ladies how to use my camera & teach them photography without teaching them.

I got my boo to take this image the other day & coached her on how to focus manually with my new Nikkor 50mm f/1.2 AI-S lens. It took her a few tries to get it but when she got it, she really got it. I really should change the watermark to read Photography [by] Suite Suzy, but I'm too tired.

BTW, notice anything new which is not on me but around me which reflects me but not really but somewhat?

Raspberry Lime Gin Spritzer

After not doing a food post for well over a month, I seem to be back with a vengeance with my Bygbaby Cooks post. I hope my domestic side is not boring you to death because I’m having fun working on recipes, tweaking old one & getting bigger in the process.

I do enjoy mixing cocktails & experimenting with fruits juices & liquors. I test a lot of my recipes out on friends when we have parties & I have only had one drink bomb over the years.

Many friends come over & before they sit down, they ask me to fix drinks. My first reaction is oh yeah, let’s do this, my 2nd reaction is bitch do I look like Isaac!

Anyway today I was craving delicious thirst refreshment after a long busy holiday weekend making Quench, selling Quench & running the streets. My raspberry lime spritzer was just what I needed to get my mind right & ready to face the real world tomorrow.

Ingredients:
- Fresh or frozen raspberries
- Seltzer or club soda
- Simple Syrup
- 1 Lime
- Gin (I prefer Rangpur Tanqueray)

Simple Sugar Procedure:
- Combine 1 cup of sugar with ½ a cup of water & a cup of raspberries in a small pot and bring to boil.
- Take a swig of your gin
- Reduce heat and let simmer 10 to 15 minutes.
- Allow to cool.

The finished product consistency should be the consistency of honey & deliciously sweet.

>>>>OK, now the fun part!<<<<
- Fill your highball glass with ice
- Pour one finger worth of gin or two if you want or need to be fucked up
- Spoon over 2-4 tablespoons your freshly made raspberry simple syrup
- Squeeze in some fresh lime juice then fill the remainder of the glass with seltzer of club soda
- Stir & serve

I garnished with lime and a few whole raspberries because I like pretty drinks. And yes, really men do like pretty & fruity drinks!

BTW, I’m using my left over raspberry simple syrup to drizzle over some French vanilla ice cream. Mmmmmmmm!

After the 4th

There are many words that can be used to describe me but patriotic is not one of them.  Although I am an American, I feel like this country’s machine is not out for my best interest as a Black man.  With that said the 4th of July means nothing to me other than new outfit, BBQ sauce stained fingers, baked beans, coleslaw, potato salad, corn stuck between my teeth, & ambrosia salad.

Although the 4th and most other things related do not resonate with me, I can certainly appreciate and respect the feelings that others have for this date & the perceived significance.

Point in case, on the 4th of July, I worked to register voters at my town’s 4th of July parade.  This was my first time registering voters & I must admit it was quite fun canvassing the crowd.

While I was working the crowd, I saw so many people decked out in red, white & blue.  Most were waving flags, some had on costumes & the parade procession was very energetic.

For a minute while I was walking, I was thinking that maybe I am just being an asshole with my ‘sometimy’ feelings about this country.  After I left the parade I reverted back to my original thoughts as I enjoyed a McRib.  Maybe I reverted back because the celebration was over, maybe I am weak minded & cannot hold my own positions in a large crowd environment, maybe I am just caught up in my own shit?????

Anyway, there were many photographable sights but since I was so busy trying to register voters, I did not have time to pullout my camera.  I was kinda bummed about that but oh well.

After the parade, I made a quick trip to Detroit to visit the Taste Fest (now called the City Fest).  While there, I was inundated with eye candy/many photographable moments.  There was a large variety of beautiful people, hot mess, performance art, and many things in between.

Of all of the images that I captured, the two images found in this post were my favorite.  They capture the piece of African within me that I love & express.  Then there is the piece of me that struggles with what it means to be an American Negro.

What say you?  What does the 4th mean to you?